GH13 Easiest way to convert GH1 .MTS videos to open in After Effects

Z

zorkiii

Member
Hello, I have been combing the forums here for some info but can't seem to pinpoint an answer yet.

I have a GH1 and want to edit some files in After Effects. When I open After Effects CS4 and try to import footage from my GH1, I get an error box that says

"After Effects error: Can't import file "00000.MTS": unsupported filetype or extension.
( 0 :: 1 )"

I tried converting the MTS using Vegas Pro, but I'm not certain of the best settings to use to make sure my footage stays the same quality. Anyone have any tips on converting to a more universal file format? Thanks in advance!

-zorkiii
 
Import MTS file into Avid -- gets rewrapped (lossless) as DNxHD -- export as QuickTime Reference (lossless) and open in After Effects.
 
sean90291 said:
Import MTS file into Avid -- gets rewrapped (lossless) as DNxHD -- export as QuickTime Reference (lossless) and open in After Effects.
Click to expand...
are you quite sure it's 'rewrapped'?
I use Avid and it seems to import the Footage and transcode it to DNxHD.
I wouldn't call it rewrapping.
Am I wrong or are you wrong ?
 
are h264 codecs installed in system?
/don't say vegas open file - it's use own internal, but AE use system splitters and codecs/
and lossless rewrapping possible with ffmpeg
 
DaLiV said:
are h264 codecs installed in system?
/don't say vegas open file - it's use own internal, but AE use system splitters and codecs/
and lossless rewrapping possible with ffmpeg
Click to expand...

Yes the h264 codecs are installed via DivX install, but it does not seem to help anything, I still get the error.
 
zorkiii said:
Yes the h264 codecs are installed via DivX install, but it does not seem to help anything, I still get the error.
Click to expand...

What nle are you using. In any case there are several transcoder tools. One free on is the Jes program. I used it before getting cs5 premiere to transcode avchd to apple prores. I don't know what is available for windows. Dnxhd from avid can be used for free if your nle supports it.
 
It looks like CS5 imports MTS no problem, but CS4 isn't doing it for me. I can load the MTS into Sony Vegas just fine, but I am not a big fan of Vegas for green screening and other stuff I need to do right now. Looks like I will have to bite the bullet eventually and get After Effects CS5. Maybe I can sell some vital organs? What brings in the most cash nowadays?
 
zorkiii said:
It looks like CS5 imports MTS no problem, but CS4 isn't doing it for me. I can load the MTS into Sony Vegas just fine, but I am not a big fan of Vegas for green screening and other stuff I need to do right now. Looks like I will have to bite the bullet eventually and get After Effects CS5. Maybe I can sell some vital organs? What brings in the most cash nowadays?
Click to expand...

Well, if Sony Vegas can export the clips, that's pretty much what I did with Final Cut Express to Apple Intermediate Codec(ProRes's country cousin...) for a while, but if you can install the avid DNxHD codec into Vegas, then you can have pretty much a pro intermediate codec. Final Cut did not 'understand' 24p embedded in a 29.97 interlaced stream... so when I imported that into After Effects, I could perform the inverse telecine process correctly.
 
roei z said:
are you quite sure it's 'rewrapped'?
I use Avid and it seems to import the Footage and transcode it to DNxHD.
I wouldn't call it rewrapping.
Am I wrong or are you wrong ?
Click to expand...

It's a transcode. DNxHD is a codec. The MTS files encoded as AVCHD, based on the H.264 codec. So, transcoding is reqruired. There are 're-wrappers' that do maintain the H.264 codec. Since I've converted over to using CS5 Premiere and After Effects, I've tended to leave the media in the AVCH/MTS files and move between Premiere and After Effects with out transcoding.
 
Cineform is much cheaper than CS5... though there are other even cheaper options. I believe you can download Avid DNxHD codec for free and use a variety of programs. I'm not sure exactly which programs because I use Cineform - its easy, and totally worth $130.
 
Another option is to use Voltaic HD to convert .mts to .mov. Beware, it has some 24fps limitations though.
 
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